What Is California Memorial Stadium’s Seating Capacity? All About Golden Bears’ $321 Million Home Turf

Situated near the Berkeley Hills and San Francisco Bay, this stadium is among the most beautiful in the nation. You may have guessed it, yes, we are referring to the home field of the Golden Bears, California Memorial Stadium, which was developed in 1923. Due to its architecture, in addition to being regarded as the most beautiful, it is also recognized as a historic site. Before moving on to the architecture, let’s consider the practical use of it, including the parking lot and seating capacity.  

The Golden Bears and Stanford played the first game at California Memorial Stadium on November 24, 1923. The stadium could barely accommodate 72,000 spectators, but by the 1980s, that figure had climbed to over 75,000. However, it had a whopping $321 million restoration in 2012, and the stadium’s capacity was lowered by roughly 10,000 seats. But today it has a seating capacity of 63,186. Let us look at the aesthetics of this place now.

One awesome thing about this place is the amazing view of the San Francisco Bay Area to the west, with three bridges and a bunch of pine trees. Secondly, the iconic design of the stadium was created by renowned architect John Galen Howard and co-designers G.F. Buckingham and E.E. Carpenter. Still today, viewers who attend games remark on how easily they can see the stadium from every aspect and marvel at its grandeur, which was modeled after Rome’s Colosseum. You might also wonder why it has this moniker at this point.

Memorial Stadium was built with funds from the public at large in remembrance of the Californians who died in World War I. Since then, generations of Golden Bears have made countless priceless memories in what is now known as California Memorial Stadium. With multiple facilities and features, it has provided service to the Bears for over 94 years. Let’s have a look at the Golden Bears’ home turf facilities. 

California Memorial Stadium’s captivating features

On September 1st, 2012, the stadium underwent renovations that resulted in the stunning edifice that exists today. Moreover, the stadium has a variety of seating options in addition to amenities, including an auditorium, recruiting lounge, store, team lockers, training areas, car storage, store area, offices for athletics and operations, staff facilities and showers, and so on. On game days, though, things can be different as spectators, athletes, and fans swarm the field. 83,000 spectators attended the Cal vs. Navy game on September 27, 1947, at CMS, the stadium’s largest-ever attendance.

Albeit, this was not the only instance; when Cal defeated Stanford 26-0 on November 22, 1952, the same number of people showed up at the stadium. However, in their ACC home opening on October 5, 2024, the California Golden Bears will host the No. 8 Miami Hurricanes, which is expected to be a big crowd. Only a few hours remain! Till then, unwind with pizza and streaming platforms while watching college football games in week 6.